The harmless word "thrush" is the popular name for candidiasis. The disease occurs not only on the genitals, but also on other mucous membranes, for example, in the mouth, intestines, and even on the skin and nails.
Thrush often appears during pregnancy. How to treat this ailment to expectant mothers, so as not to harm the fetus? Anyway, should he be treated? What is dangerous about him? To correctly answer these questions, let's get to know the thrush better.
What is candidiasis
The disease got its medical name from Candida (Candida albicans) fungi, representatives of the conditionally pathogenic group. “Conditionally” means that they begin their destructive activity only under certain circumstances, for example, a decrease in immunity. This is not as good as it seems, because the disease can occur at any time, being a response to taking antibiotics, severe stress, even malnutrition. In every second case, thrush is recorded during pregnancy. How to treat her in this case and why is she so "indifferent" to pregnant women? The answer is simple. Pregnancy is a condition in which a woman undergoes a series of changes favorable to the growth and development of candida. But where do they come from if they were not there before their pregnancy and spirit?
Infection pathways
Candida mushrooms live harmlessly in each of us, getting into our body in the womb or during childbirth. In the future, we can pick them up with food (milk, raw meat, unwashed vegetables and fruits) and household items.
The habitat of candida is the oral cavity, vagina, large intestine. While these microorganisms are in a controlled amount, they help the normal functioning of the body. The disease begins when abnormal growth of fungal colonies occurs. This is one reason. The second is unprotected intercourse with a patient with candidiasis. If the second reason is completely excluded, but all the same, a thrush suddenly appeared during pregnancy, a woman should not panic and look for those responsible. Mushroom colonies in most pregnant women begin to grow intensively by themselves under the influence of certain factors.
Thrush: causes, treatment of the disease in pregnant women
Many expectant mothers did not suffer from thrush before pregnancy. The emergence of the disease contributed to:
- restructuring of hormones and, as a result, a change in the acidity of the vaginal secretion;
- decreased immunity due to increased stress on the body;
- psychological condition;
- performance of large physical exertion in a given period;
- change in diet (pickles, marinades, sweets);
- unreasonably frequent hygiene procedures, during which the necessary microorganisms are washed off the mucous membranes;
- some diseases (hemorrhoids, dysbiosis, constipation, colitis);
- the use of antibiotics.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of thrush are mild and, as a rule, go unnoticed. These include minor itching of the external genitalia and an increase in the number of secretions. Now almost all women use sanitary napkins that make it difficult to control the volume of vaginal discharge. Therefore, candidiasis can be detected at the initial stage of the disease only by making a smear bacterioscopy.
If the first symptoms of thrush are somewhat blurred, then it is difficult not to pay attention to the further development of the disease . Women experience persistent itching of the external genital organs due to the penetration of Candida mycelium into the mucosa. This itching usually intensifies when wearing synthetic underwear, after washing and urinating, during sleep. In the future, the walls of the vagina become inflamed, painfully react to any touch, urination passes with a sharp burning sensation, pain, vaginal discharge become significant. Their color is white with an unpleasant odor. In appearance, they resemble thick kefir or curd clots. Hence the name - "thrush." If left untreated, pain in the lower abdomen may appear.
Danger to women
Many do not know what the thrush is fraught with during pregnancy. How to treat the disease, the doctor will tell. The expectant mother is obliged to strictly comply with all the requirements.
A frivolous attitude to the problem leads to the following complications:
1. The threat of abortion. Persistent itching causes irritation, insomnia, headaches, increased pressure and increased uterine tone.
2. Complicated childbirth. The inflamed walls of the genitals are inelastic, due to which numerous tears occur during childbirth, and the sutures are poorly tightened.
3. Based on candidiasis, other, more dangerous diseases may occur .
4. In those who have given birth to a first-born using cesarean section during repeated pregnancy, a suture discrepancy is possible due to thinning of the uterine scar.
Danger to the fetus
For the baby, thrush during pregnancy is also a serious threat. How to treat mom so as not to make worse the unborn baby?
Some women fear that treatment will do more harm than help. It is not right. Thrush can cause:
1. Delayed fetal development and pathological diseases of its internal organs.
2. Infection of the fetus with more dangerous microorganisms that appeared in the mother against the background of candidiasis.
3. Candidiasis sepsis, often leading to the death of the fetus and the already born baby. An autopsy shows that in such children, many internal organs, including the brain, are covered with a web of mycelium.
Treatment
We talked about the causes that contribute to the appearance of a disease such as thrush. The treatment of this insidious disease should be carried out only by drugs prescribed by a doctor. To determine which of the dozens of existing drugs will be the most effective, special studies are being conducted. The biomaterial taken from the smear of a woman is placed on Wednesday, which contributes to the growth of fungal colonies. In the future, they are affected by various means, selecting the most effective, and from them - the safest for the fetus.
At the initial stages of the disease in the
first trimester of pregnancy , Nystatin, Zalain, Natamycin are recommended, which are used exclusively topically, in the form of suppositories and ointments. In advanced cases, doctors prescribe pills, as well as Clotrimazole. The price of this Russian-made medicine ranges from 40-50 rubles per ointment, 60-100 rubles per cream and 70-120 rubles per solution. There is also an imported drug that differs from the domestic one only in price.
Safe Thrush Medications
As with any medicine, antifungal agents have contraindications. Some drugs have more, others less. For example, "Nystatin" is practically non-toxic, poorly absorbed into the blood, which is why it is prescribed even for newborns. It is contraindicated only for people with increased hypersensitivity to components. The same can be said of Zalain. This drug is expensive, but with just one or two uses, the symptoms of thrush disappear.
“Nitamycin” or “Pimafucin” are among the most harmless, so do not be afraid to use them. Their disadvantages include longer treatment periods and low efficiency in advanced cases. "Clotrimazole" has excellent performance. The price allows you to use it for any category of pregnant. However, this drug has a number of side effects, such as irritation of the mucous membranes, pain in the lower abdomen, rashes on the body. It is advisable to use it only at the final stage of pregnancy.
Folk remedies
If the diagnosis is "thrush", home treatment only folk remedies will only harm. It is impossible to get rid of the fungus without the use of drugs. Traditional medicine suggests making baths and douching with decoctions of oak bark, chamomile, calendula, nettle, garlic, solutions of baking soda and iodine. These funds only temporarily reduce discomfort, without affecting the further development of mushrooms. This apparent well-being helps the growth of candida colonies and exacerbation of the disease. In addition, frequent douching during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage. Treatment with folk remedies is advisable only in combination with the use of medications prescribed by a doctor.
It is important to remember that not only the expectant mother, but also the future dad should be treated. Otherwise, the disease returns again after a short period of time. After completing the course of therapy, both spouses are required to pass control tests.
How to avoid candidiasis during pregnancy
Everyone will agree: it is better that no means be used at all, even the most effective against thrush and the most harmless. For this, the first and most important thing that needs to be done before conception is that both spouses pass tests to identify any genital infection in the body.
This is especially true for those who have already encountered similar diseases. In addition, for pregnant women, there are a number of simple but effective recommendations:
1. To maintain immunity, eat more fruits and vegetables.
2. Monitor the stool, preventing constipation and dysbiosis.
3. During the day, be sure to find time to relax, avoid sleep deprivation and stress.
4. Perform hygiene procedures without fanaticism, using only natural means.
5. To exclude wearing synthetic underwear and pads in the heat.
6. During periods of a surge in colds, avoid visiting crowded places.
How not to treat candidiasis
If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, the thrush during pregnancy is not so terrible. The reviews of patients who successfully coped with the problem are excellent confirmation of this. All of them had healthy babies. However, there are still women who more trust the advice of friends, old recipes. There is also a category of very shy women who cannot overpower themselves and consult a doctor if genital itching occurs. Such people prefer to be treated at home on their own. I would like to remind you that the “grandmother's” remedies relieve symptoms only temporarily, thereby driving the problem inward, complicating its further treatment and jeopardizing the birth of a healthy baby.
Buying over-the-counter medications is also wrong, because only a doctor can determine which medicine is appropriate in each case.
And it is completely unreasonable to leave candidiasis unattended, planning to get rid of it only after childbirth, so as not to harm the fetus with unnecessary medications. Such "care" about the baby can lead to his death.